Foot rail



M. BOOTH July 25, 1933.

FOOT RAIL Filed March 3, 1932 INVENTO MATH] 0 I Patented July 25, 1933 i MARGARET noorH, 0F Yoan, n. Y. f

l roo'r nait" i Application -led lvlareh 3,

' This invention relates :tol foot-rails and` more particularly to the folding type, appropriate for` cabinet bars formingrthe subject matter of my PatentNo. 1,862,654, Vof'J une 14, 1932,v .of which this application is a continuation in part, and also otherl forms'of refreshment bars, or automobiles, andhas for' l its object to provide a rail mounted on movable supports and therefore capable of being easily extended or retracted, and when in the latter-position with the said supports concealed within the structure with which the i foot-rail Vis associated. Another object is to provide means-by which the ,xture as a whole may be supported by the said struc ture independent of the floor beneath such structure when in an extended position, and a. further object is to provide 'a device in `which the rail when in a retracted position will closely embrace the` contiguousfs'urface simulate a Lcontour associated with said Wall, with the supporting brackets for .the rail operating 'within slots in said wall insuch a manner as to "close same and form a continuity ofl the-outersurface of 'said wall.

It will be understood that the outer surfaceof the aforesaid'brackets may be finished-to correspondto the finish of theY Wall, such as asimilar color or a-'harmonizing one, ork it may be covered with leather, cloth or other material, vif thesurface of the associated structure Vbe so'vc'overed.V It may [also be"^desirable'A to form this "portion of the Vbrackets to 'likewise yrepres'r-znt an ornamental contour similar in character to that of the rail member of thefdevice thereby producingthe effect of apanelwhenthe VVVfoot-rail is retracted andfwith or withoutja fourth complementary Iside which n would l be perma-V nently carried by the' wall.k Thev brackets would then protrude slightly from the slots through which they operate. y

In any event the -footrail will be capable of being folded back into a compact 'position when it is desired to discontinue its use as a foot'rest and prevent accidental stumbling against it,'and with the supporting elements housed within the'associated structure lfor concealment therein sufficiently, and in the manner set forth, to disguise the real char- V acter fof the fixture.` Furtherobjects ofthe invention are hereinafter set forth in the following specification and drawing forming. a

,counter and,` of the wall of the said structure'andthereby 1932. .serial- Nojeefaa;

part i thereof in which I have lillustrated i a preferred embodiment of lmy invention. t'

Referring to such drawing,4

Y Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my limproved i foet-railtogether with the .v supporting struc-l ture which may ybe associated therewith,rand ii- .with the partsfinan extended'position and the central portion broken out.

Fig. 2*,is a vertical sectionfof same onV a plane.substantiallyithrough the center of@l Fig. 1, Fig. 3is an elevation similar lto -Fg,'1 but with thevfoot-rail in a. retracted position. Y Fig. iis a sectionsimilar to Fig. 2 butl with the foot-railin a retracted position.

, Fig. 16 is a plan View. ontaireducedscale showing. the foot-rail appliedtoa bar or LFig. 7 is a sectional viewof a modifiedv Vform of the invention.

Fig. '5,is, a horizontal section onl the 'line-*.79 l5*,5 kof Fig. 2.

I Referring to Figures. 1 tol' foot-rail is y' l shown applied to an example of supporting.

Istructure suchl as having'a front wall 1 andk side walls 2 forming 'acompartment within Y whichcertain parts of the device are adapted to extend,jand consists of brackets in the form Y of lbell-crank levers 3 which are pivotally mounted atton plates. 5 whichinturn are secured to the inner walls of the sides 2 of the structure 1. The levers 3 are provided withforward Varms 6 and rearward arms 7, and are adapted to swing through slots V8 in .the-wall: 1 adjacent the sides The forward i arms of levers 3 are secured at their outer ends to a rail member 9, as by-screws orbolts 9', so Ythat the rear surface of the rail member ywill contact withthe forward ,surface of the said arms and with the rail member forward 'ly of said arms and extending slightly be-. vvyond and above the ends thereof asshown in .Fig-,'25 A webbA between arm 6 and arm 7 adds rigidity,` and a web 7 extends rearward ly from armli' and carries a boss 10 within which is secured a pin 11 projecting laterally i therefromfoward the side 2v and which is adapted to engageanrnarcuate slot 12 formed ,in plates '5 and centering about the pivot 4.

Arm 6 v.forward of the web portion 6 is substantially equal in width to the width of the -slot, 8and arm.7 .forward of the web portion ',7is likewise w 'ofsaidslot Y Y .Vhen the foot-rail is swung outwardly into ide enough to equal the width the extended position shown inlFig. Zthev aforesaid wide portion of arm 7 'will occupy rail isretracted as in Fig. ll, the arm 6 then functioning to close slot '8' for the saine purthe slot`8 and the outersurface of the arm i y will then besubstantially flush with the outer surface of the front wall 1of lthe associated structure, thus closing the otherwise unsightly open slot and providing a continuity of the wall surface as set forth. Y Y 'A Similar results are` attained whenthe footpose; .The 'arcuate slot 12 in each of the plates 5 is of suitable length to act as a stop for the pin y11 when the latter reaches either Il riid thereouf,'so that the rail member9 will he sustainedin an'eXtendedposition and at a desired height above the floor beneath'tlie supporting structure, or in close proximity to y member thereof is detachable. `Duringsu`ch l es ' `the "outer surface of the wallvl when in'far re- Y tracted position and without marring` the huish thereof. Y'

' I have shown the railmember 9 of a suitable configuration to conform to the arches of the feet when contactingV therewith while eX-v tendechand also of further configuration so lthat whenretracteditwill simulate,` for eX- ample, a moulding or the like'constituting a part ofthe associated supporting structure.

lArm 7 whichincludes the web 7 and boss 10,

is purposelymade more bulky than arm 6 to :increase its' weight relatively ,and in this manner operate to sltghtlv` overbalance the latter arm together with the rail member so that thefixture when oncev retracted will rexuiain in such position underforces of gravity acting thereon .as will be apparent.r V

ln the modiicationfshown in Fig.v 7 supporting bars 15 are substituted for the levers '3, which are adapted to slide in guide members'l secured to the sides Qof the supporting structure. A rail member 17 is secured to the outer Aends of the bars 15 and is of a suitable configuration to provide a foot rest when thev Adevice is extended as shown, or when in a retracted position with rail 17 contiguous with wall 1, to simulate a contoiirassociated with the same, as in the preferred embodiment. Suitable stopslS may be `provided asshown to limit the extent ofthe outward movement of the rail member. Y l i y The fixture may assembled and mounted on the supporting structure because the rail assembly the bellcrankA levers 3 are first slipped over the pivots'll projecting from plates 5,'or theyv may be permanentlyV pivoted thereto. and the levers are 'then Apassed through the slots 8 from-within the structure and towardthe outside thereof. TheV plates 5 may then be fastened in place oiithe side walls a hole 7 in web 7 ofY arm-7 being provided ffor the insertion of onevof the boltsbr screws 'used for this purpose which would" otherwise be covered by saidweb portion. Therail vmember may then be vsecured'in its proper position on arms 6 by the means ind-icated at 9", or in'any` suitable mannerto provide sufficient rigidity for the purpose intended. y f

1n applying the device to an automobile as fa foot rest forf'the occupants of the rear seats of such vehicles, the slots 8 will be cut through the rear wall of the front seating structure, and-thelevers 3 will extend within such structure and beneath the front seat and at the ends'thereofp rlhe plates 5 may be modified dimensionally if necessary to cooperate with that part ofthe automobile body frame to 'which they might be secured, and the apparatus may be similarly'extended as described, or retractedY justas inlFig, with the rail member close tol-or against the said rear Wall of the front seata'nd .with the levers or brackets 3 completely withdrawnfrom the rear seat compartment so thatl they'cannot then Vinterfere with .anything it might be desirable toV transport therein such asvhand baggage etc., the full capacity of such com- V1,919,583 Y l Y Y and brackets securedto and bridged 'by said rail member, andpivotally securedl to said structure Vso as tobeircapable ofv swinging through said slots,1saidfbrackets being adapted to` substantially disappear within said structure when said foot-rail is in' a retracted position with respect to said structure, and essentially close said slots with the outer surface of said brackets thereupon forming a complementary kpart of Vthe contour of the adjacent outer surface of. said Wall.

i 2.,'The combination withffa supporting structure having a wall with slots thereinof a folding foot-rail comprising a rail member, and brackets secured to and bridged by said 'railinemben and pivotally secured to said structureso as to be capable of swinging through'said slots, vsaid brackets being adapted to substantially' disappear lWithinl said structure when said foot-rail is in a retracted position :with respect to said'structure, and essentially close said slots with the 'outer surface of said brackets thereuponv forming a -fcomplementary'part of thecon'tour of the adjacent outer surface of said wall, andrwith said rail member tlienin close proximity to said outer wall surface thereby simulating a contour associated with said wall. i

3.*The combination lwitha supporting structure 'having a wall'with' slots therein, Iof a folding vfoot-'rail comprisinga'rail inember, and brackets securedto and bridged by said rail member, and pivotally secured ,to said structure so as to be capable of swinging through saidslots, said brackets being adapti ed to substantially disappear within said structure when said foot-rail is in a retracted position with respect to said structure, and essentially close saidv slots with the outer surface of the portion of said brackets occupying said slots substantially Hush with the adjacent outei` surface of said wall, the configuration of said brackets being such that another portion thereofiwill close'said slots in the vaforesaid manner when said rail inember is in an extended position. i

4. The combination with a supporting structure having a wall with slots therein,-of a folding foot-rail comprising a rail member, and brackets secured to and bridged by said rail member, and pivotally secured to said structure so as to be capable of swinging through said slots, said brackets being adapted to substantially disappear within said structure when said foot-rail is in a retracted position with respect to said structure, and essentially closev said slots with the outer surface of the portion of said brackets occupying said slots substantially flush with the adjacent outer surface of said wall, the conguration of said brackets being such that another portion thereof will close said slots in the aforesaid inaniier when said rail member is in an extended position, and the' position of said rail inemberrwhen retracted being then in close proximity to said outer wall surface thereby simulating a contour associated with said wall. y

5. The combination with a supporting structure having a wall with openings therein, ofl an extensible foot-rail comprising a rail member, and supports secured thereto and-adapted to be moved through said openings to extend said rail member oi' retract saine with respect to said wall, said rail member when retracted being then substaiitially in contact with the contiguoussurface of said wall to simulate an ornamental contour associated therewith, and said supports constituting the only supporting members y carried by said rail.

6. The combination with a supporting structure having a wall with slots therein, of a folding foot-rail comprising a rail inember, and bell-crank. levers pivotallysecured to brackets carried by'said structure so as to be capable of swinging through said slots, one arm of each' of said levers'extendiiig'forwardly out ofsaid slots when said foot-rail is in an extended position, and being secured to said rail member, and the other arm thereof extending rearwardly within said structure, andmeans operatively associated with said latterarni and carried by said brackets for limiting the movement of said lever to thereby support said rail member in such extended position. Y

tion.

'and bell-crank levers pivotallysecured to f brackets carried by said structure so as to be capable of swinging through said slots, onev ari'n of each-of said levers extending forp Wardly out offsaid slots whenY said foot-rail is in an extended` position, and beingpses cured to said rail member, and the other arm thereof extending lrearwardly within said structure, and means operatively associated with vsaid latter arm and/'carried by said brackets for` limitingthemovement ofsaid lever to thereby support said rail mem-k ber in such extended position, said levers being adapted to counterbalance said rail member and thereby retain it in a retracted posiu 8. The combination` with a supporting structure having a wall with slots therein, of

a. folding foot-rail comprising a rail mem# 1 ber, and bell-crank levers pivotally secured to brackets carried by said structure so as to be capable of swinging through said slots, one

arm of eachof said levers extending forward'- ly out of said slots when said `foot-rail is in an extended position, and being secured to said rail member, and the other arm thereof y extending rearwardly within said structure,

and means operatively associated with said latter arm and carried by said brackets for by support said rail member in such extended position, the former arm being adapted to f limiting the movement of said lever tothere@ Y occupy and substantially close said slots when an extended position, and being secured to 1 said rail member, and theother arm thereof extending rearwardly within said structure, and means operatively associated with said latter armand carried by said brackets for limiting theinovement of said lever `to thereby support said rail member insuch extended position, each of said arms being adaptedto i occupy and substantially close said slots whenV iii relative positions corresponding respectively to the extended or retracted positions of said foot-rail,'and`with the respective outer surface of each substantially flush with l Y .l

the adjacent outer sur-face of saidwall.l

MARGAanTr Boorii.

isc, 

